CN108953368B

CN108953368B - Rolling bearing assembly

Info

Publication number: CN108953368B
Application number: CN201810492568.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阿明·奥尔舍夫斯基; 托马斯·佩舍尔; 塞巴斯蒂安·齐格勒; 亚历山大·德·弗里斯; 安德烈亚斯·克莱门斯·范德汉
Original assignee: SKF AB
Current assignee: SKF AB
Priority date: 2017-05-24
Filing date: 2018-05-22
Publication date: 2022-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-22
Also published as: US20200011379A1; US20180340575A1; DE102017208871A1; CN108953368A; US10508690B2

Abstract

A rolling bearing assembly comprising the following features: at least one first and second rolled surface elements on which the rolling elements are arranged for rolling; at least one row of rolling elements arranged between said first and second rolled surface elements such that the rolled surface elements are rotatable relative to each other in the manner of a rolling bearing; at least one first rolling element of the rolling elements comprising a first sensor module and a first communication module connected with the first sensor module; at least one second rolling element of the rolling elements comprising a second sensor module and a second communication module connected with the second sensor module; and the communication module and the sensor module are formed with a unified connection interface for connecting the modules.

Description

Rolling bearing assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rolling bearing assembly.

Background

From the prior art some proposals for sensorized rolling bearing assemblies are known, which are configured (/ constructed) as very specific suitable solutions.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in this respect.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

A rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1, comprising the following features:

-at least one first and second rolled surface element on which rolling elements are arranged for rolling,

-at least one train of rolling elements arranged between said first and second rolled surface elements such that the rolled surface elements are rotatable relative to each other in the manner of a rolling bearing,

at least one first rolling element of the rolling elements comprising a first sensor module and a first communication module connected with the first sensor module,

-at least one second rolling element of the rolling elements, comprising a second sensor module and a second communication module connected to the second sensor module, and

the communication module and the sensor module form a uniform connection interface for connecting the modules.

The uniformity (/ consistency) or standardization of the connection interfaces allows the use of a uniform communication module (regardless of the configuration of the sensor module), depending on the type of variable to be detected, which has to be configured differently on the system for different variables. The uniformity of the communication modules facilitates connection to a common receiver, wherein the use of identical sub-components provides many advantages in terms of provisioning (provisioning) and also has cost advantages. It is also possible to adapt in a simple and cost-effective manner to the most diverse use cases. The same applies to the modification and replacement.

Furthermore, since a plurality of rolling elements are equipped with sensors, the space problem that would exist if they were all packaged in a single rolling element is solved. Furthermore, it is thereby possible to detect variables which cannot be detected at all in this way using a single sensorized rolling element. Here, the rolling elements are in particular arranged distributed in a specific position with respect to one another, for example two (rolling elements) lying exactly opposite one another, or three each at 120 ° intervals, or four each at 90 ° intervals. It is of course also possible to use a single sensorized rolling element.

Drawings

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with the aid of the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a rolling bearing assembly,

figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the rolling bearing assembly of figure 1 in the region of the rolling elements comprising the sensors;

FIG. 3 shows a detailed explanatory diagram of the sensorized rolling element and the receiver, an

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a measuring and evaluating method of a rolling bearing assembly comprising a sensorized rolling element.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a section through a rolling bearing assembly configured as a cylindrical roller bearing. The rolling bearing assembly here comprises an inner roller-on surface element 2, which is configured as a hollow cylinder, and an outer rolling surface element 4, which is also configured as a hollow cylinder, between which a column (set) of cylindrical rolling elements (/ rolling bodies) 8 and 10 is arranged such that the two

rolling surface elements

2 and 4 can rotate or at least pivot relative to one another in the manner of a rolling bearing.

There are conventional rolling elements 8 without sensor technology and rolling elements 10 including sensor technology. The sensor technology is arranged in a cavity of the rolling element 10 of hollow cylindrical configuration or, in another embodiment, in a non-axially continuous cavity extending outwardly from the end side of the cylindrical rolling element. Here the sensor technology comprises one or more sensors for variables (variables) such as described in more detail with reference to fig. 4, for example. Here, the sensor technology of the different rolling elements 10 may be configured for detecting the same variable or may also be (detecting) different variables, for example, the number of revolutions (revolutions), the load (load) and/or the acoustic emissions (acoustic emissions) of the rolling element 10 and the rolling bearing assembly. In some embodiments, the sensorized (/ sensed) rolling elements 10 can be distributed in a specific position relative to one another, for example two (sensorized rolling elements) are arranged exactly (/ exactly) opposite one another, or three are arranged at 120 ° intervals or four are arranged at 90 ° intervals, respectively, or also a single sensorized rolling element 10 can be used.

Furthermore, in one embodiment there is a cage in which the

rolling elements

8 and 10 are arranged and which prevents, for example, mutual contact of the

rolling elements

8 and 10. Likewise, a seal may be provided, which seals the rolling element space outwards (/ with respect to the outside) so that, for example, lubricant (for example grease or oil) present in the rolling element space does not penetrate outwards. The

surface elements

2 and 4 to be rolled and the

rolling elements

8 and 10 can be made of rolling bearing steel or also of any other suitable material.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the rolling bearing assembly of fig. 1 in the region of one of the sensorized rolling elements 10. It can be seen here that the sensor technology is arranged in the volume of the hollow cylindrical rolling element 10. The sensor technology here comprises a sensor module 20 connected to a communication module 40 via a connection interface 30. The sensor technology of the other rolling elements 10 provided with sensors is configured accordingly, wherein it is particularly advantageous if identically configured communication modules are used for all sensor technologies and the connection interface 30 is also uniform (uniform one), with the result that the sensor technology differs only in its sensor module 20 (/ respect) (depending on the type and the action of the variable to be detected).

Fig. 3 shows a detailed illustration of the connection (/ connection with) of the rolling element 10 provided with sensor technology of fig. 2 with a receiver 45 arranged outside the actual rolling bearing assembly. Here, the unified connection interface 30 comprises four

connection points

32, 34, 36 and 38, in particular one for power supply, another for analog data transmission, another for digital data transmission and finally one for ground (ground). Further, the communication module is configured for wireless data transfer to the receiver 45. Here, the sensor module 20 itself can again be subdivided by actual sensors 22 and corresponding amplifiers 24.

By combining, in particular, the measurement data of a plurality of sensorized rolling elements 10, it is advantageously possible to achieve, for example, an all-encompassing determination of the load state of a rolling-bearing assembly, taking into account their temporal progression (temporal progress) and occurrence. For this purpose, in one embodiment, the sensorized rolling element 10 is given a precise time stamp (/ time stamp), which may be achieved, for example, by time synchronization with the receiver 45 via a wireless data connection.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for monitoring and controlling the operation (operation) of a rolling-bearing assembly as an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein at least two or more of the rolling elements are equipped with sensors for detecting noise emissions, (equipped) with load sensors and/or (equipped) with sensors for detecting the rotation of the bearing and the rolling elements, according to the above-described configuration (/ configuration).

In a prescribed step (/ specific step) 100 of the method, thresholds are defined (for) noise emission, load and rolling element slip (/ slip) (slip), which differ according to the type and application of the rolling bearing assembly. Thereafter, in a first step 200 of the method, noise emissions of the rolling bearing assembly are detected by respective sensors and transmitted to a receiver unit. The data of the measured and transmitted noise emission are then compared in the receiver unit with a defined threshold value (for) the noise emission, so that in case of a falling-below threshold value the next step 300 is continued, or in case of exceeding the threshold value the step 220 is continued before the method continues with step 300 after, if necessary.

Here, step 220 comprises correspondingly informing the operator of the rolling-bearing assembly and/or that process parameters influencing or controlling the operation of the rolling-bearing assembly are changed, so that it can be concluded therefrom that the noise emission has therefore fallen below a defined threshold value. In severe cases, an emergency shutdown may also be initiated, thereby ending the method and the system will be restarted again.

Then in step 300 of the method, the load condition of the rolling bearing assembly is detected by the respective sensor and transmitted to the receiver unit. The measured and transmitted load condition is then compared in the receiver unit with a defined threshold value (for) the load, so that the next step 400 is continued in case the threshold value is breached, or step 320 is continued in case the threshold value is exceeded, before the method continues with step 400 afterwards, if necessary. Here, step 320 in turn comprises correspondingly informing the operator of the rolling-bearing assembly and/or that process parameters influencing or controlling the operation of the rolling-bearing assembly are changed, so that it can be concluded therefrom that the load has thus fallen below a defined threshold value. In severe cases, emergency shutdown may further be considered. In severe cases, an emergency shutdown may further be initiated, thereby ending the method and the system will be restarted again.

Then in step 400 of the method, the bearing and rolling element rotation is determined by the respective sensors for determining the possible presence of bearing slip and transmitted to the receiver unit. It is then compared in the receiver unit with a defined threshold value (for) slip, so that in case the threshold value is breached, the next step 500 is continued, or in case the threshold value is exceeded, step 420 is continued before the method continues with step 500 afterwards, if necessary. Here, step 420 in turn comprises correspondingly informing the operator of the rolling-bearing assembly and/or that process parameters influencing or controlling the operation of the rolling-bearing assembly are changed, so that it can be concluded therefrom that the slip has thus fallen below a defined threshold value. In severe cases, an emergency shutdown may in turn also be initiated, thereby ending the method and the system will be restarted again.

Finally in step 500, an overall (general) status report of the rolling bearing assembly including the measurement data is generated before the method then performs step 100 again and so on … ….

The method procedures described above represent only a single exemplary embodiment. The flow chart depicted in fig. 4 shortens or lengthens and/or processes other variables accordingly, according to more or fewer sensors and according to sensors for detecting the other variables. In particular vibrations, but also the lubricating masses or the skewing (skewing) of the rolling elements, and also the temperature are taken into account as further variables. Furthermore, in an embodiment, at least one accelerometer may also be provided, which may also be used for detecting a change in vibration, for example (in case/if the lubrication condition changes).

Claims

1. A rolling bearing assembly comprising the following features:

at least one first rolling element of the rolling elements comprises a first sensor module, a first communication module and a first connection interface, wherein the first sensor module is connected to the first communication module by the first connection interface,

-at least one second rolling element of the rolling elements comprises a second sensor module, a second communication module and a second connection interface, wherein the second sensor module is connected to the second communication module through the second connection interface, and

the first connection interface and the second connection interface are a unified connection interface, wherein the unified connection interface comprises a connection point for power supply, at least one connection point for data transmission and a connection point for ground in series between the sensor module and the communication module.

2. The rolling bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first sensor module and the second sensor module are identical.

3. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the uniform connection interface comprises a first connection point for analog data transmission and a second connection point for digital data transmission.

4. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolling elements equipped with at least one sensor module and communication module are arranged at a specifiable angular position along the circumferential direction of the row of rolling elements.

5. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that said prescribable angular positions are positions equidistant from each other.

6. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolling elements are provided in a cage which is geometrically and/or material-technically configured such that communication of the communication module with a receiver is ensured.

7. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolling elements are rollers.

8. The rolling bearing assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of the sensor module and the communication module is disposed in a pocket extending from an end side of the roller into an interior of the roller.

9. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the sensor modules comprises at least one sensor for detecting noise emission, load, rotation, temperature, acceleration and/or lubrication parameters of at least one of the rolling elements and/or rolling element assembly.

10. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolling bearing assembly comprises a part of a control and monitoring unit affecting the operating state of the rolling bearing assembly, configured for receiving and further processing the variables recorded by the sensor module and transmitted to the unit via the communication module.

11. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the control and monitoring unit is configured such that the operating state is changed out of a non-critical state, an emergency shut-down is initiated and/or an operator is notified with the result of the further processing indicating a critical operating state of the rolling bearing assembly.

12. Rolling bearing assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the communication modules is configured for wireless communication.